New Research Shows Reliance On Shipbuilding

2 September 2016, 10:38

The reliance of the Scottish economy on naval shipbuilding has been shown in new research revealing how many jobs it supports.

Almost 6,000 jobs and £162 million in wages rely on BAE Systems yards on the Upper Clyde, while almost 4,000 jobs and £105 million in wages are supported by the Rosyth dockyard in Fife, the study by the GMB union found.

The findings stress the need for the UK government to deliver the type-26 frigate programme, said the union.

GMB Scotland Secretary Gary Smith said: "This report was commissioned following the delays to the type-26 programme and because of the long-term frustrations felt by our members across the sector after years of being used as a political football.

"One job on the Upper Clyde alone supports an additional 1.18 jobs across Scotland so for the future of Scottish shipbuilding and our long-term economic prosperity it is imperative that the UK Government makes good on the promised frigate programme.

"Furthermore, and with a second independence referendum a real possibility, the Scottish government needs to demonstrate to our members how they would plan to sustain their jobs, wages, pensions, skills and local communities without MoD investment.

"This report is a reality check and shows that the fragile Scottish economy cannot do without the thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of pounds in wages supported by navy shipbuilding contracts.''